碳酸锂接下来怎么走？高盛：价格或区间震荡，直至明年年中供需关系走向收紧

Core Viewpoint - The lithium market is experiencing significant price fluctuations, with lithium carbonate prices rising by 70% from their low point earlier this year, and a forecast of a "tight balance" in supply and demand for the next year [1][3]. Group 1: Price Trends - Lithium carbonate futures have shown an upward trend, reaching a peak of 102,500 RMB/ton, marking a new high for the year [1]. - The average price of battery-grade lithium carbonate in the spot market is currently 99,250 RMB/ton, which is a 65% increase from the year's low of 59,900 RMB/ton [1][3]. Group 2: Supply Dynamics - Supply constraints are a key driver of the price increase, with domestic lithium carbonate social inventory decreasing for 13 consecutive weeks, totaling a reduction of 22,000 tons [3]. - The average monthly production of lithium carbonate from the Ningde Times Yichun mine, which was previously around 7,000-8,000 tons, has been affected by production disruptions, raising concerns about short-term supply [3]. Group 3: Future Outlook - Goldman Sachs anticipates that while demand remains positive and inventory continues to decline, an increase in elastic supply is expected if prices rise, leading to a likely price range of 80,000-100,000 RMB/ton (approximately 10,000-12,500 USD/ton) [3][4]. - The market is expected to remain in a price range until mid-2026, when domestic supply constraints and strong demand are projected to tighten the market, with an average price forecast of 8,900 USD/ton for lithium carbonate in 2026 [4]. Group 4: Analyst Perspectives - Analysts express cautious optimism regarding future price trends, noting that while the current price surge is driven by inventory depletion and storage demand, the pace of lithium mine restarts in Jiangxi should be monitored [5][6]. - Concerns have been raised about a potential seasonal decline in demand for energy storage cells, with production exceeding demand for two consecutive months [6].